Beara Way & Dursey Island Cable Car

Go to the start of scenic Beara Way, go to Dursey Island at the Beara Peninsula in West Cork! But the "trail" is not for the faint-hearted because it runs 30m above the sea...in a cable car to be precise.

Dursey Island Cable Car is the only cable car in Europe that goes over water! Local are somewhat proud of the "tin-can hanging from telephone wires" given the fact that there is no other cable car in the whole country. Watch the windswept "tin-can"in our video:

 

Once you're on Dursey Island, Beara Way loops 11km round the island - an easy hike after a tough journey!

Lodging:
There are no lodging options on Dursey Island. The closest B+B, Sea View (left), is located in the village of Allihies, which is a 15-minute drive on R572/575 to the North. Another option is Beara Coast Hotel in Castletownbere (25 minutes along R572 to the East).


Map:


Travel Guides

Gougane Barra Forest Park (Guágan Barra)

Open KML file to view the hiking trails of Gougane Barra in Google Earth!

Gougane Barra Forest Park is located in the Shehy Mountains, 20 km southwest of Ballingeary in County Cork. The backdrop of rugged hills, dark pine forests and tranquil Gougane Barra Lake (Lough an Ghugain) create a unique atmosphere of magical calmness - thus making the area a haven for hikers!

There is a tiny island in the lake with an isolated chapel dating from the 19th century. Against the wild scenery of Gougane Barra, the chapel appears even more iconic and consequently it is one of the most photographed sites in County Cork. The chapel is accessible via a narrow causeway linking the island with the shore. River Lee (An Laoi) rises near Gougane Barra, flows through the lake and continues to Cork Harbour where it eventually empties.

In 1966 the area was named as Ireland's first national park. The name Gougane Barra derives from St. Finbarr (Barra in Irish, the patron saint of Cork), who is said to have built his monastery on the island in the lake in the 6th century, and means "Barra's retreat enclosed by mountains".

The forest park offers six hiking trails of different levels and some of them are leading to picturesque waterfalls and viewpoints:

• Slí Ghaorthaidh, 0.5 hrs, multi-access (i.e. suitable for wheelchairs and buggies)
• Slí Com Rua, 10 mins, moderate
• Slí Doire Na Coise, 1.15 hrs, moderate
• Slí Laoi, 1 hr, moderate
• Slí An Easa, 1 hr, strenous
• Slí Sleibhe, 1.45 hrs, strenous

View Gougane Barra Forest Park in a larger map